Centrifugal machine



Dee. 31, 1925A.,l w. H. BATH 'CENTRIFUGAL MACHINE Filed Oct. 10, 1928 Patented vvDec. 31, 1929 UNITED STATE-s PATENT Lori-Ice a 'WILMER H. BATH, OF WEST CONSHOHOCKEN, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T0 THE SHABPLES SPECIALTY COMPANY, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPO- Barron or DELAWARE cnnrmaaucau. MACHINE Application led October 10, 1928. Serial No. 811,562.

This invention relates to centrifuges and I discharged from arot-ating bowl in dispersed 4 condition into stationary annular chambers, the inner edges of the top and bottom walls of which are spaced slightly from the upper surface of the bowl. Rotation of the bowl causes rotation of the air surrounding it due to surface friction between the bowlI and the air. The rotation of the air develops centrifugal forces therein which tend to lcause a flow of air through the spaces between the bowl and the edges of the chambers and also along the top and bottom walls of the chambers. As a result some of the liquids are carried by the air currents out of the compartment into which they were discharged from the bowl. The liquids carried out of one chamber may be introduced into another chamber or into the casing of the centrifuge, thus causing either intermingling or loss of the separated liquids.

An object of this invention is to counteract the effect of the air currents above described and confine the liquids to the compartments into which they are discharged from the bowl.

Other objects, -novel features, and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following specification and accompanying drawings wherein:

\ The figure is a vertical section of a centrifuge embodying the invention.

The casing of the device is designated by the reference character 10, and casing is rotatably mounted a bowl 11. This bowl is provided witha head 12. having passageways 13 and 14 through which the separated liquids are discharged in dispersed condition. The head is also provided with a neck 15 by means of which the bowlll is supported and rotated by suitable driving means (not shown). A cover 16 surrounds the bowl 11 and is supported by the casing 10. A second cover 17 1s supported from the first cover 16 and forms therewith liquid is discharged from the bowl 11 through the passageway 13. A lid 18 is supported by within this a chamber into which the cover 17 and forms therewith a chamber lnto which liquids are discharged from the bowl 11 through the passageway 14. The covers 16 and 17 are provided respectively wlth spouts 19 and 20 by means of which the hquids discharged into the chambers may be drained therefrom.

Rotation of the bowl 11 causes rotation of the air in contact therewith and the rate of rotation is substantially proportional to the diameter of the portion of the bowl in contact therewith. Where the rate of rotating of the air is greatest theair will have the greatest centrifugal force and vice versa..

The centrifugal force in the casing will therefore be greater than that in the chamber formed by the covers 16 and 17 which, in turn,

will be greater than the centrifuval force deer chamber and from the latter into the casing. There may be a iiow of air in or out of either spout 19 or 20 according to the amount of air whichv passes through the annular spaces. The air in contact with the surface of the bowl will have a greater angular velocity than the air] in contact with the top and bottom walls of the chambers. the air in contact with the top and bottom walls will have less centrifugal force than the air midway therebetween and accordingly the rotating air will move inwardly in a spiral direction along such walls and move outwardlyin a spiral direction intermediate the walls.

The currentsof air thus produced by rotation of the bowl tend to carry out from the chamberssome of the atomized liquid suspended in the air therein as well as to carry liquid which has been deposited on the bottom and top walls of the chambers toward the inner edges of the covers from which it may drop or be blown downwardly out of the chamber by the above described air currents. As a result, liquids discharged into one of the chambers may be carried out therefrom lnto another chamber or into the casing of the cen- Inn trifuge, thus causin either intermingling or loss of the separate liquids'.

According to this invention liquid is prevented from escaping from the lower chamber into the casing 10 by supporting an inverted frusto-conical collar 21 at theinner edge of the cover 16 and providing an annular plate 22 which overlies the space between the collar and the bowl and projects beyond the periphery of the collar. This plate is supported from the upper edge of the collar by annular member 22 serves to catch any liquid dripping off the top wall of the chamber and the high velocity flow of air from beneath the plate tends to draw o' outwardly any liquid collecting on this plate. The shoulder 24 of the plate 22 prevents flow of such liquid over the inner edge thereof. The jet of air escaping from the restricted passageway tends to draw with it any atomized liquid that may have found its way into the space between the bowl and the collar, thus prevents loss from the lower chamber to the casing 10.

Although in the embodiment of the invention specifically disclosed herein, the collar 21 is supported by the cover 16 and prevents loss from the lower chamber to the casing, it is apparent that it is within the contemplation of this invention that the collar be supported by the cover 17 for the purpose of preventing loss from the upper to the lower chamber. The invention can be made use of wherever it is desired to prevent loss from a discharge chamber of a centrifugal machine. It is, of course, understood that various structural modifications may be made in the above disclosure without in any way departing from the spirit of the invention as defined `in the appended claims.

. I claim 1. In a centrifugal machine, a casing, a bowl rotatably mounted therein, covers forming chambers for receiving liquids discharged from said bowl, an inverted frusto-conical col- .lar carried by one of said covers and an annular plate supported above the upper edge of said collar.

2. In a centrifugal machine, a casing, a bowl rotatably mounted therein, covers forming chambers for receiving li uids discharged from said bowl, an inverte frusto-conical collar carried by one of said covers and an annular plate supported by said collar in spaced relation to the upper edge of the collar. 3. In a centrifugal machine, a casing, a bowl rotatably mountedtherein, covers forming chambers for receiving liquids discharged from said bowl, an inverted frusto-conical collar carried by one of said covers and an annular plate overlying the space between said collar and bowl, said late being spaced slightly from the upper e geof 'saidcollan 4. In a centrifugal machine, a bowl mounted for rotation, covers forming chambers for the reception of substances discharged from said bowl, an upwardly flaring collar carried by one of said covers, and means for increasmg the velocity of air flowing across the upper edge of said collar.

5. In a centrifugal machine, a bowl mounted for rotation, covers forming chambers for the reception of substances discharged from said bowl, an upwardly flaring collar carried by one of said covers, and means for diverting across the upper edge of said collar, air flowing upwardly therein. s

6. In a centrifugal machine, a bowl mounted for rotation, covers forming chambers for the reception of substances discharged from said bowl, an upwardly Haring collar carried by one of said covers, and'. means for preventing the drip of substances into said i Haring collar.

Iii-testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

WILMER H. BATH. 

